Treacherous Love

By A.J. Keeling

Sometimes, a father doesnt know best!

Auburn Westbrook is an intelligent and beautiful woman thrust into motherhood at an early age, with the love of her life thousands of miles away. Jay Ling is smart, talented, and in love with a woman that his father despises. Ty Ling is a savvy businessman who always has his way, no matter what the professional or personal costs may be, and he is hell-bent on keeping Auburn and Jay apart. Margaret is a free spirit at heart, struggling to deal with her husbands tragic death. Will she be able to open up her heart again? Forbidden love and fate intertwine, and destiny meets deception in this emotional thriller.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 4, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543458916

A.J. Keeling

A.J. Keeling was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana and currently resides in Riverdale, Georgia where she continues to write poetry, songs, and short stories. She is a true believer that you should never give up on yourself and do what you can to accomplish your dreams. Nothing beats a failure but a try.

Book preview

TREACHEROUS

LOVE

A.J. KEELING

Copyright © 2017 by A.J. Keeling.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-5434-5890-9

                 eBook          978-1-5434-5891-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 10/30/2017

Xlibris

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CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Prologue

My stomach hurts really bad, mom! O, my God! There’s blood! How long has this been going on, Auburn? I’ve been hurting all day. It’s too early to have this baby, mom, I’m so scared. Please come home. I’m on my way, baby! Margaret broke every traffic law trying to get to Auburn, who was sixteen years old, nine months pregnant, and not due for another three weeks. As she arrived at the house, Auburn was lying on the floor unresponsive. Margaret called 911, and Auburn was rushed to the hospital. How long has she been like this, Mrs. Westbrook? asked the doctor with a look of concern. She had been stressed out after losing her dad, and she’s been on bed rest for the last couple of weeks. Where is she? Is she okay? Tell me is my daughter okay, doctor! Margaret asked with her eyes fixed on the doctor, trying to analyze his body language. We had to rush her to the operating room. We’re going to do our best to help her. Please, doctor. I can’t lose her too. Margaret paced the floor in the waiting room, restless and worried about the condition of her daughter. Hours passed, and the doctor came out. Doctor, please tell me something! Margaret said with anxiety in her face. We had to deliver the baby by emergency C-section. Auburn went into premature labor from excessive stress, and the baby went into fetal distress. It was imperative that we delivered quickly or we would have not been able to save them both. Auburn has a beautiful little girl. How is my daughter, doctor? Be straight with me. Auburn flat-lined right after delivery and we had to resuscitate her. Her blood pressure is beginning to stabilize, and we had to give her blood. The baby is in the NICU and mom is in the ICU. We will monitor her carefully for the next 48 hours, but she will be just fine, Mrs. Westbrook. She’s a very strong young lady. Thank you, doctor. Margaret gave a sigh of relief and reached for her cell phone. Hello. Ty, this is Margaret. Where is your damned son? He’s in school, where he’s supposed to be. Look, Margaret, don’t call me spazzing out! What do you want? If anybody on your end gives a damn, you are a grandfather. Congratulations, you bastard! Margaret hung her phone up and threw it at the wall in the waiting room, startling a few people. She went to the cafeteria to get a strong cup of coffee. She stayed with Auburn and her new grandchild until they were well enough to be released. So, baby, have you figured out what name you are going to give this gorgeous little girl? Yes. Her name is Cynee Arianna Ling. You did good, baby. Real good. When we get home, we should get you well, pack and get the hell out of Louisiana to get a fresh start. Where do you want to go, mom? Texas. There are lots of opportunities there. I’m down. There’s nothing for me here anymore. Me either, baby. Me either.

Chapter 1

I don’t see why we have to go to this anyway! I don’t even like those people! They don’t really care for us anyway! said Auburn in her frustrated voice as she stood in her mirror combing her long reddish-brown hair. Calm down and stop making such a big deal out of this. You know funerals always bring people together who haven’t seen each other in years. Whether they care for each other or not and anyway our families were very close before we moved away. So let’s just go and show our respects. So do you think I should wear this hat or not? Miss Margaret had on her Beige church hat that accentuated her hazel eyes and high cheekbones. Her black dress clung to her medium frame showing off her curves, and her beige heels were not too high, but it made her look like she was 5’8 tall. You look great mom. You don’t look a day over 35, Auburn said playfully. Awww hush, girl! You know I look good for 45! Here wear these diamond earrings. They make your eyes look green. Auburn was 5’7 tall without heels, and she had a medium frame like her mother, but she had large breasts with no waist and always thought her butt was too big. Her sandy brown hair was curly, full and down her back and she always kept it pinned up. She had on a pair of black slacks with an asymmetrical gray and white shirt which flattered her figure but not too much as she always tried to hide her behind. Do you think this looks okay for a funeral? I don’t want to come across as inappropriate, she asked as she put on her cute flat gray shoes. Girl, stop worrying so much! You look great. Just enjoy the package that God gave you. I know I do. Now let’s go. We have to drop the baby off first. It will be too much to bring a four-year-old to a funeral around a bunch of people that she doesn’t know. She doesn’t know about death yet and will be confused. Mrs. Ling was always good to us, but that husband of hers was just nauseating. It just didn’t make sense to be a complete jerk all of the time. Come on, Cynee! Get your book bag and let’s go, baby girl! We don’t want to be late! Ok gamma, said Cynee in her happy voice. She ran into the bedroom adjusting her blue and white checkered uniform dress. She was a beautiful four-year-old girl with a light brown complexion like her mother, long straight black hair, and the prettiest hazel-green eyes. She was very well spoken and polite and was also very obedient. I’m ready to go to my new school now mommy and gamma! I can’t wait to make new friends but I miss my old ones sooooo much! she said holding her arms far apart. Let’s go, baby, and I want you to be good today for me okay? Okay. I’ll be your good princess. They left to have plenty of time to drop the baby off at school, get breakfast, and drive to the funeral which was an hour away in Slidell, Louisiana. This drive always seems like it takes forever, but the view of the water always calm me down. It just looks so peaceful and serene; makes me feel like fishing. Mom, as long as I’ve been alive I’ve never seen you with a fishing pole or even heard you talk about fishing, said Auburn as she looked at her mom in surprise. Your dad and I used to fish all the time when you were in school. We would always be back home in time to get you off the bus. Since your dad’s death, I just lost the desire to go because it’s just not the same. We would just sit and talk for hours while waiting for the fish to bite. Sometimes we would do well, and sometimes we would not catch a thing. But it was worth it just to spend the time with him. I miss those days. I miss dad too. He was so strong and proud and always took such good care of us. I hate the fact that he never had the chance to meet Cynee, being that he died right before I gave birth to her. How far away are we from the funeral parlor? Auburn had to change the subject before they both started to cry. We are almost there. We just have to go down to Gause Blvd, and this is the exit now. Are you ready for this? I think I am. And if I don’t have to speak to Mr. Ty Ling I will be just fine! I feel you. I share the same feelings but let’s just be cordial and not show our emotions on our sleeves. Ok, let’s go. As they arrived at the funeral home, Auburn and Margaret had seen some familiar faces and were delighted to see that Mrs. Ling was loved and respected by so many people. Auburn was nervous because it had been almost five years since she had seen or had any contact with the Ling family or her friends in Slidell where she was born and raised and attended high school. Auburn was brilliant and graduated with honors a year ahead of schedule. She was quite the social butterfly and knew almost everyone there because her father worked with Mr. Ling at their construction company in Slidell. Mr. Ling came from China with no money and big dreams of owning his own business. He was a very handsome man – 58 inches tall, very well built medium framed, high cheekbones with clear skin, dark eyes and hair with a beautiful smile, very outspoken, and charismatic. He used those qualities to his advantage to get himself established, especially with the ladies, who flocked to him. He later brought his wife into the country and started a family right away. They had three sons and four daughters most of whom were older than Auburn by a few years, but she attended high school with their youngest son Jay and daughter Mia. They had become close over the years helping each other with homework and projects and just hanging out after school, and their mothers ended up becoming good friends as well. The parents shared recipes and gossiped and giggled as Mrs. Ling spoke English very well. When Auburn’s father Bo lost his job because his old construction company folded, Mr. Ling had an idea about them going into a partnership with their own construction company together. The two started out doing simple jobs as Bo taught Mr. Ling every aspect of carpentry, drywall, plumbing, and home renovation and Mr. Ling taught Bo how to do bookkeeping and manage money wisely. The two rose to the top of their game quickly, hired crews and started doing major projects such as building shopping centers, sophisticated office buildings, and residential homes. The families were close until Bo’s accident, which left him in a coma for four months before he died. Margaret had to sell their home and then moved to Texas after Auburn had her baby, and they never looked back. Hello, Auburn and Miss Margaret! It’s so good to see you again! It has been way too long, said Mia as she hugged the two ladies. They all exchanged pleasantries, and Mia told them how her mother was asking for them right before she died, about her long fight with lung cancer and how she remained faithful and optimistic until the very end, and how she wanted to come out and see all of them but was just too weak to travel. She missed talking to Margaret and loved them all as family and wondered why they left so abruptly. I missed her so much too, but I had so much grief I was dealing with with the loss of Bo that I couldn’t even think straight. I wish I could have had the opportunity to say goodbye to her. She was like a sister to me, said Margaret as she started sobbing. Mia, sobbing as well, handed Margaret and Auburn tissues to wipe their tears. Come. I’ll show you to your seats. They followed Mia to their seats and to Auburn’s surprise she was sitting next to Jay. They hugged each other for what seemed like forever, and Auburn gave Jay her condolences. They took their seats, and all was quiet for the rest of the viewing of the body and the funeral. Once the funeral was over the repast was held at the Ling’s estate in Slidell. The Ling estate was a beautiful home that was custom made - built by Bo’s creative hands and mind as specified by Mr. Ling with eight bedrooms and five bathrooms with thick alabaster walls and a kitchen big enough for a king. The foyer and living room was breathtakingly large with Asian artifacts and custom paintings which reflected the exquisite taste of Mrs. Ling. Every aspect of their home had everyone in awe, and the pool was a beautiful shade of indigo blue. The butlers and maids made sure that everyone had what they needed to eat and drink while the music was soft and subtle. As Margaret and Auburn were talking to Mia and her siblings Mr. Ling slowly approached them as if he was thinking too hard about what to say. Hello, ladies. I’m glad you could make it out today. My wife would have been very pleased with how things have turned out today. I’m so sorry for your loss, Mr. Ling. Your wife was an extraordinary woman, and it was so good to see that she had so much love shown to her by everyone who was here today. I just wish we could have seen her before she died to let her know that we loved her. Thank you, Auburn. Margaret, I hope all is well with you. You look well. I heard you’ve moved back to Louisiana. Do you need any help getting settled in? No, thank you. We’ve gotten everything squared away but thank you for asking, said Margaret, in a cautious tone. In the back of her mind, she was wishing she was not talking to him, but she was trying to be nice. Margaret was concerned as to why he was so nice to her now after being so mean and nasty in the past. Whatever the reason was haunting her but she managed to show tact and grace because it wasn’t about him, it was about her best friend. If you need anything don’t hesitate to ask. You ladies have a good day. Same to you, Mr. Ling, said Auburn and Margaret in unison. Everyone ate and drank and enjoyed seeing each other. Once everything was over, the wait staff began cleaning, and everyone gathered their belongings and headed on their way home. Mia and Jay walked Auburn and Margaret out to their car. I’m so glad that y’all made it today. It was wonderful seeing you again. Please don’t be a stranger, Auburn. You have my number, Mia said as she gave Auburn a big hug and a dazzling smile. Okay, Mia. I promise I will call you. Let’s go for lunch next week. Wonderful! Maybe Friday we can go to the French Quarter and have some fun. We deserve it. Yes, we do, said Auburn in an exhausted tone. I will call to check on y’all from time to time, said Margaret as she was getting into the car. Jay, once again I’m so sorry for your loss. Your mom was a remarkable woman and my best friend. I loved her and will miss her dearly. Thank you, Miss Margaret. She loved you both and thought the world of you. Auburn, I would like to keep in touch with you as well. We should catch up. I am moving back to the guest house to look after everyone and to help my dad with the company. Besides I’ve missed it here and my dad is not getting any younger. He won’t admit that though, Jay said playfully. We do have lots to catch up on. You’ll call me when you make it home, so I’ll know you’ve made it back safely? Yes, I promise. As soon as I get back in the house, I will call you. Have a good night, Jay. You too, Auburn. It has been too long." They gave each other a hug that seemed like it lasted forever and stared into each other’s eyes.